The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-07-14
The Fall Elections.

ngton correspondent of the Baltimore Sam.
# the Sth, as saying, Senator Riddleber-
,er and his friends, and Editor Yost, are |
point" We have no authority to speak |
'or Senator Riddleberger and his friends
put for editor Yost'' we have. We have |
made no fight upon Senator Malone. We
have endeavored to impress upon the Re
1ublicans of the State the imperative ne
,essity of eliminating from the fall can
vass every question and interest that does
not relate to the administration Of the
State government of Virginia. The par
amount consideration in eecting a Legis-
lature, should be to rescue the Common
wealth from the deplorable condition into
which Democratic laundering has plunged
her, and to leave all other issues to be dis
posed of after the Legislature is chosen.
We have particularly instanced the Sena-
torship as matter which would properly
come up when it is learned whether the
Republicans have the power to control it,
The first thing to do is to hold the
Democratic party to the record it has made
in legislation since 1883, when it got con-
troll of the Legislature, The Democrats
are very anxious to escape from this and
make an issue on The U. S. Senatorship.
They know they cannot defend their leg
lslative acts, nor can the Democratic mem
bers of Congress defend the record they
have m AIDE. Should it come to a cOmpar
ison of substantial practical services to the
State. in Congress, and reflection of the
wishes and interests of the people. Senator
Malone would not suffer either as to Mr..
Barbour or any other Democratic mem
Der. But the important thing to do is to
elect a Legislature, not primarily with ref
erence to the Senatorship. but with refer
ence to the grave questions of State in
tereSts, which come more closely to the
people and are more directly related to
their material interests. The Democrats
would not be ayerSe to, but would gladly
Republicans would help them out of their
difficulties, by ignoring questions of vital
practical Importance affecting State inter
ests and enter upon a discussion of the
claims of Gen. Malone, MI. Barbour
and Gov. Lee to the Senatorship. We do
not think it good policy or good citizen
ship to crafty them. They have bitter
family fend Of their own as to that plumb.
Mr. Barbour has set his heart on in it and
Gov. Lee is wooing the fates to smile upon
him. Let the fight go on, without inter-
ference from the Republicans. But rather
let the Republicans bring to the attention
of the people, not only the fearful condi-
tion of the State, as the result of Demo
cratic rule, but the absolute necessity of
''Ieformingh the Democratic party out of
power, as the first and the essential step to
assure needed relief. Hence We do not
purpose to make the Senatorship a test in
this fall contest, nor to favor any side is
sue or influence that would be calculated
to divert the popular mind from more Sc
rious questions, affecting the welfare of
the people. Compared with the misman-
lagement Of State affairs. the Senatorship
dwarfs into insigniticance, and the earnest
engaged in brave endeavors to remove the
greater embarrassments and expressions.
In the progress of the canvass, we do
not expect to be entirely silent upon the
| record of the Democratic party in Con-
gress. nor to allow the false pretense and
broken promises of the representatives of
that party to escape criticism. They prom
ised the people the Blair Educational bill,
the repeal of the internal revenue laws and
other boons, not one of which promises did
they fulfill. They have proven false to
every interest of the people, both in Ma
| tional and State legislation, and in framing
| bill of Indictment against them it would
| not be complete unless full and frank
exposure of their short comings in Con-
gress were included.
The proper thing for the Republicans to
do. therefore, is to select for the Legisla-
ture the very best men in their party-men
who can be implicitly trusted to reflect
public sen timent and courageously demand
that the people, and not the politicians,
be represented in the Legislature, and in
the measures which may be proposed and
supported. This primary object should not
be obscured by an unseemly squabble. over
the pretensiOns of any man to the Senator
ship. And if Mr.. Barbour and his party
see proper to press the Senatorship let the
contention be confiI-ed to the warning fac
tions of that organization and excluded
from the counsels, the plans and the pur-
poses of the Republicans.
We are for Virginia and the Repub
lican party over the claims of any
man, whether he be Senator Riddleber-
Der, Gen. Malone, Capt, Wise, Col. Lamb,
Gen. Groner; or Mr.. Barbour, Gov. Lee,
Holmes Conrad, or any other aspirant.-
And this idea we shall keep before the peo-
pie, and press it upon them in season and
out Of season. When the Legislature shall
have been chosen then it will be question
for that body to decide who would best
subserve the true interests of the State
and contribute to the welfare of the toll
ing masses. If in seeking to accomplish
these ends, it should become necessary to
ignore lesser issues and lesser things, then
they will have to be ignored. The inter
ests of the State and the vitality OF the
party will demand this, and this demand
should be obeyed regardless Of the ambitions
and aspirations of men, whether of one
party or the other. The Republican party
is not in its swaddling clothes that it should
require aswet nurse 1t has the strength
and the stature of a full grown man, and
the vigor and intelligence to take care of
itself, and this it will do.
Virginia on the 4th.
Virginia was highly honored on the 4th.
Hon. John S. Wise was the invited orator
for the occasion of the celebration at Phil
adelphia Gov. Lee filled like role, before
the Tammany Society of New York, and
Hon. w. r. Aylett addressed the reunited
remnants of the Philadelphia Brigade of
Union soldiers and Picketts Division of
Confederate forces. Each performed the
duty assigned with distinguished ability
and won the admiration and applause of a
vast audience which listened to them. We
have elsewhere referred to Mr.. Wise's ora